Missing Titan

Outside the battered Shiganshina district, Erwin stood with Hange and the 89 remaining members of the Survey Corps, their eyes fixed on the horizon, waiting for any sign of Levi Squad. The air was thick with tension and an unspoken dread that gnawed at everyone's mind.

"Damn it, what's taking them so long?!" Hange muttered, pacing back and forth, a frown creasing her usually curious face. The survivors had been through hell, but the idea of Levi's team—missing and possibly fallen—made the silence unbearable.

Erwin's sharp gaze focused on a faint figure in the distance. A single horse galloping toward them. But… where was the rider?

The soldiers rushed to intercept, pulling the exhausted animal to a halt. Slumped in the saddle was a bruised and battered blonde boy, his body twisted and broken in ways that hinted at agony beyond endurance.

"Armin!" Mikasa was there in an instant, grabbing him and gently pulling him down. Her face was ashen as she took in the sight of his injuries, her hands trembling. "How did this happen? Armin… please, talk to me!"

Armin's eyes flickered open, his face twisted with pain. He tried to speak, but the words came out broken. Hange crouched beside him, uncorking a bottle of alcohol to clean his wounds, whispering reassurances as he shuddered under her touch.

Finally, Armin's voice, barely a whisper, fought through the pain. "The Armored… Titan… attacked us… it was looking for someone… for Eren…"

A ripple of shock passed through the Survey Corps. The Armored Titan. The words felt like dead cold steel, sinking into everyone's hearts. Erwin's jaw tightened, but he maintained his composure, barely.

"It came out of nowhere," Armin rasped, clenching his jaw. "Hit us hard… everyone…"

Mikasa's eyes darkened, and without a word, she readied her gear and marched to her horse. Erwin's calm voice cut through her haste. "Mikasa, where are you going?"

She turned, fire flashing in her eyes. "Eren's in danger, and Levi's squad is late. I'm going after them."

"I can't give you permission for this," Erwin replied, his voice steely but calm, the weight of authority evident in every word.

"Who cares about your permission?" She spat. "I don't!" She was about to leap onto her horse when the sound of hoofbeats drew everyone's attention.

A soldier near Historia squinted toward the horizon. "It's Captain Levi! And he… he's carrying someone. An injured woman!"

Mikasa's heart raced. She ran forward, meeting Levi as he dismounted and gently lowered the injured figure. But the face she saw wasn't Eren.

"Where's Eren?!" she demanded, her voice breaking with desperation.

Levi ignored her, shouting instead for Hange. "Four-Eyes, I need you here! She needs medical attention, now!"

Hange rushed over, her face a mix of relief and horror as she took in the state of Petra, who was barely clinging to consciousness.

"Answer me, pipsqueak!" Mikasa shouted again, her tone as harsh as the accusation in her eyes. Her disrespect shocked everyone around them, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Erwin stepped forward, his voice calm but insistent. "Captain, where is Yeager?"

Levi's expression darkened, and his voice came out low and bitter. "There are Titans with human brains. Shifters, like Eren. We were ambushed by the Armored Titan. I fought it, but then another one showed up… one I'd never seen. It… it looked like a beast."

"A Beast Titan?" Erwin's expression remained stoic, but his eyes held a hint of concern.

Levi nodded. "It threw chunks of earth, wiped out everyone. Only Petra… only she survived, by pure luck." He paused, looking away, the weight of failure hanging heavily over him. "And it took Eren."

The words hung in the air, a silent explosion that hit harder than any Titan. Mikasa's expression twisted with rage and grief. "You're lying! You're lying! You were supposed to protect her!" She lunged at Levi, her hands raised, but Jean and Connie grabbed her, holding her back.

Levi didn't flinch. He stood, shoulders slumped, his voice barely audible. "She's right. Maybe… I could have saved her. But I chose to save Petra instead."

Mikasa fought against her friends' hold, the betrayal and grief breaking through her resolve. She struggled, tears streaming down her face. Before she could react further, Erwin stepped forward, placing a hand on the back of her neck. A single, precise chop, and Mikasa's eyes rolled back as she slipped into unconsciousness. Erwin caught her, gently handing her over to Jean and Connie. "Keep an eye on her," he commanded quietly, his tone brooking no argument. "Make sure she's monitored. I don't want her trying anything reckless."

Jean and Connie nodded, their faces pale. "Y-yes, sir."

Erwin turned back to Levi, his face a mask of determination. "We'll discuss this later."

As Sasha and Historia moved to help Armin, the soldiers gave way, recognizing that Petra's injuries required immediate care. Hange was already at work, her hands moving with practiced urgency, while Levi simply stood there, staring at the blood-stained earth, watching as the last of the sun dipped below the horizon.

Under his breath, he whispered into the shadows. "Don't die… brat."

Eren slowly pushed herself up, finding her legs fully regenerated beneath her. Her pants, however, were frayed just above the knee, exposing the newly formed skin. Her boots, too, were gone, lost in the chaos. For a moment, she only stared, marveling at the miracle of her restored limbs—still unfamiliar, yet undeniably hers.

Noticing her need, Zeke stepped forward, offering his own cloak. "Here. And these." He handed her a pair of fine leather boots, neatly polished and surprisingly comfortable in appearance. They looked a bit worn, molded to the shape of another's feet.

"These… aren't your size," she observed, frowning slightly. "Did you bring them along, or…?"

He looked away, his voice carrying a weight of loss. "No. I didn't come here alone. They were… for someone else. But they're all gone now."

The memory struck a nerve within her. She felt her fists clench instinctively. "I'm sorry," she said, voice hardening with resolve. "I'll make them pay. We'll avenge them."

Zeke nodded, a hint of sorrow flickering across his face, though he swiftly changed the subject. "Once you're ready, we should leave. My ship is nearby."

She blinked, taken aback. "Ship? What's a ship?"

Zeke paused, gauging her reaction with a mix of surprise and curiosity. "A ship… think of it as a large vessel that travels across the ocean. It's a place beyond walls, Eren, where water stretches endlessly, farther than you can see."

A spark of awe ignited in her eyes. "The ocean…" she murmured, remembering Armin's dreams, his tales of endless blue. She had always wondered if such a place truly existed, but hearing it now—spoken so casually by this stranger—made it feel real, within reach.

As they began to gather their few belongings, Zeke glanced over at her legs. "So… your limbs are back to normal now?" he asked, almost cautiously.

"Yeah," Eren replied, a bit awkward. "I… recently found out I can turn into a Titan. I didn't mean to startle you, though." She kept her words carefully vague, avoiding any mention of her past identity or abilities, unsure of what he knew or might assume.

Zeke's eyes widened, and he instinctively took a small step back, a shadow of fear crossing his face. She raised her hands quickly, her tone calming. "I'm not dangerous. I can control it; it's not like the others. I can keep it in check."

He watched her for a beat longer, a storm of thoughts in his eyes, but finally gave a nod. "Alright. If you're sure." He let out a quiet sigh, sounding almost resigned. "Honestly, I don't understand half of this, but… you don't seem dangerous, and I don't sense any deceit in you. Either way, we have to keep moving."

Eren cast one last glance over her shoulder, the remnants of their shattered world stretching far into the shadows. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to move forward as Zeke led the way. And as they left the desolate cave, a quiet promise echoed within her—an unbreakable vow for vengeance.

Author Note: I have some interesting plans for the next chapter. And some revelations too. Stick around if you want more.

Till next time!